When San Diego Fire-Rescue District Chief Dan Eddy drove up to the scene of the plane crash in Murphy Canyon around 4 a.m. Thursday morning and saw a house consumed and multiple vehicles in flames, he expected a worse outcome.
Thankfully, while there are at least two confirmed fatalities of people on the plane, no one in the quiet neighborhood died or was seriously injured despite all houses being occupied.
As of 11 a.m., eight people were treated for minor injuries at Miller Canyon Elementary School and one was transported to the hospital.
At a press conference, Eddy attributed the preservation of life on the ground to minor miracles as well as the military training of the people in the neighborhood.
In the house with the largest fire, neighbors helped rescue the people inside, Eddy said. The neighbors also mobilized to get other families out of their homes, yelling and pounding on doors.
Rachel Willard was awakened when her son started crying after hearing a loud bang. She was working to console him when shouts of ‘Fire!’ from outside alerted her that it was more than just a bad dream that had upset her child. With her husband, they grabbed keys, their son and infant daughter plus a diaper bag before rushing to the car.
“There was not only police, but other neighbors walking around, just making sure everybody got out of the houses and everything like that,” Willard said.
The family first stopped at the nearby Navy Exchange gas station before the school was opened as an official evacuation site. The Red Cross and military officials handed out food, clothes, baby formula, car seats and other goods the young families evacuating need. A steady stream of cars from community members dropped off donations.
“It’s been an amazing response as far as everyone looking out for each other and talking to each other and taking care of everyone,” Willard said. “You can really feel the support.”
Firefighters brought therapy dogs at the evacuation site, comforting children in pajamas scared after the ordeal.
While waiting for the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate, the scene is closed to preserve evidence. It is unclear when people may return to their homes.
Eddy said debris from the plane spread out over several blocks, prompting further searches by firefighters from the air.
The National Transportation Safety Board was already on site investigating at 11 a.m. FAA officials were en route.
While housing in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood is for military families, it is under the jurisdiction of the city of San Diego.
“Crews did a great job working with San Diego PD to start evacuating the neighborhood and with military to ensure that we are doing the right things to work with the military,” said Fire-Rescue Chief Robert Logan, touting the response as “great coordination by all.”
Councilmember Raul Campillo, who represents the area, also promised continued cooperation between the city, school district and all involved following the tragedy.
“We know that there was many miracles and many heroic actions from our police department, from our firefighters and the military members themselves. I heard stories over at the school just near us about military families helping military families out of their home, jumping out of windows, avoiding fire,” Campillo said.
“These are families that San Diego values. We’re proud of. We’re going to continue to support these military families who are from all over the country but live right here in San Diego.”
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